I walked out of a meeting in Northeast with Council Member Paul Ostrow on Monday night. After exchanging greetings he said “So the Governor really handed it to us”. I looked at him some what of a perplex look and asked, “how so”. He start complaining about how the Governor struck out $70 million dollars from the bonding bill, and really let Minneapolis have it. Now Paul and I have had similar discussions in the past, and it he never fails to amaze me with his weird sense of priorities. I told him that I’m sure the Governor funded only what was needed, and struck out what wasn’t needed. Paul started going on about the light rail and bridge projects. I let him know that none of what I saw struck out of the bill was really needed at this time. I mean “holy crap” we have everyday joe lunch bucket having trouble making ends meet and he is peeing about the light rail. I pointed out to him that I know some people whose property taxes went up 30% last year! The one question that he is never able to answer “do you know anyone who got a 30% raise last year”? Where do you think the money government collects comes from anyway? Can he be that unaware of where the mnoey they spend comes from, or does he just not care about the people he represents? He paused, and said “we need people like you at the truth in taxation meetings”. Ugh, total waste of time. They would never listen, and I work for a living and don’t have time to play their games just to end up on their “hit list”. Wait a minute; I most likely am there already.
Here is the link to the Governor’s veto list, judge it for your self. The Minneapolis Shadow hands to Paul Ostrow the golden “Wasteiod” award for the week.
http://www.governor.state.mn.us/stellent/groups/public/documents/web_content/prod008798.pdf
Apr 9, 2008
Apr 6, 2008
Sunday Visit
Education recap
One of the major passions that I have is education. I find the lack of effort on focusing on the real problems inexcusable, and an abandonment of kids left in the charge of the school systems.
Here are the key points discussed in the education series this week two weeks.
Disciple in the classroom
The parents need to understand and come to an understanding with the administration of the school that there are expectations of their children’s behavior and strong consequences for not meeting those expectations. The teacher is in charge of the classroom.
Clear out the administration
The school administration is a bloated bureaucracy that requires major trimming. More money needs to go towards classroom materials, instruction, and better pay for teachers. We need to attach teachers from the professions that they are to be teaching to improve the quality of instruction and provide real life experiences.
Prepare for the math and science revolution
The sciences, math, and engineering fields are the way of the future and require better instruction that what is currently being provided. This type of education experience is the “meal ticket” out of poverty. Thses facts need to be stressed to kids and parents and with the focus on can be brought into reality.
Focus on what is important
Do away with social promotion and focus on the basics, which must include math, reading, writing, civics, history, science, physical education, health and finances.
Math, reading, and writing are time tested and regularly seen as the basics, but it goes far beyond that.
Civics. The basics of what makes this country work and makes it the greatest nation on the earth has been lost on a number of generations now and the needs refocusing.
History. The future problems are repeated if you don’t understand history. It cannot be the revisionist history however, but a true account of events.
Science. We have lost some of our ability to properly simulate the imagination and the exploration soul of the human sprit. We have lost some of our ability to properly excite the mind of our kids towards the understanding of the world around us. We must rekindle these things and it starts in the classroom of the sciences.
Physical Fitness and Health. America has become more and more health consciences and must instill good healthy understanding at a young age. An upgrade in our health education curriculum is sorely needed.
Finances. An issue such as the housing financial crisis demonstrates that the education methods on finances are serious lacking. In order to steam the tide of this requires the education system to lay a better understanding of how basic finances and the economy work.
Make a pact with parents
The parents need to be on board with the education program otherwise nothing works. The parents need to be held accountable for their children behavior and education results. Some parents aren’t equipped to handle the kind of help their children need, but the school and teachers need to recognize that and figure out how to compensate for that. I’m a big believer in tutors for kids that are falling behind in subjects, and the parents need to be onboard with allowing the kids to get the help they need. Parnets must also ensure that their kids are meeting expectations such as homework, and get the answers their children need. Without the parents fully engaged nothing gets accomplished.
The numbers don’t lie no matter which ones you believe
Stop avoiding the real problems and directly attack that issues head on. The graduation are horrible and everyone connected with these numbers should recognize it for what it is, a grand failure.
In order to solve these problems it takes real leadership, and in the city there seems to be a lack of it.
One of the major passions that I have is education. I find the lack of effort on focusing on the real problems inexcusable, and an abandonment of kids left in the charge of the school systems.
Here are the key points discussed in the education series this week two weeks.
Disciple in the classroom
The parents need to understand and come to an understanding with the administration of the school that there are expectations of their children’s behavior and strong consequences for not meeting those expectations. The teacher is in charge of the classroom.
Clear out the administration
The school administration is a bloated bureaucracy that requires major trimming. More money needs to go towards classroom materials, instruction, and better pay for teachers. We need to attach teachers from the professions that they are to be teaching to improve the quality of instruction and provide real life experiences.
Prepare for the math and science revolution
The sciences, math, and engineering fields are the way of the future and require better instruction that what is currently being provided. This type of education experience is the “meal ticket” out of poverty. Thses facts need to be stressed to kids and parents and with the focus on can be brought into reality.
Focus on what is important
Do away with social promotion and focus on the basics, which must include math, reading, writing, civics, history, science, physical education, health and finances.
Math, reading, and writing are time tested and regularly seen as the basics, but it goes far beyond that.
Civics. The basics of what makes this country work and makes it the greatest nation on the earth has been lost on a number of generations now and the needs refocusing.
History. The future problems are repeated if you don’t understand history. It cannot be the revisionist history however, but a true account of events.
Science. We have lost some of our ability to properly simulate the imagination and the exploration soul of the human sprit. We have lost some of our ability to properly excite the mind of our kids towards the understanding of the world around us. We must rekindle these things and it starts in the classroom of the sciences.
Physical Fitness and Health. America has become more and more health consciences and must instill good healthy understanding at a young age. An upgrade in our health education curriculum is sorely needed.
Finances. An issue such as the housing financial crisis demonstrates that the education methods on finances are serious lacking. In order to steam the tide of this requires the education system to lay a better understanding of how basic finances and the economy work.
Make a pact with parents
The parents need to be on board with the education program otherwise nothing works. The parents need to be held accountable for their children behavior and education results. Some parents aren’t equipped to handle the kind of help their children need, but the school and teachers need to recognize that and figure out how to compensate for that. I’m a big believer in tutors for kids that are falling behind in subjects, and the parents need to be onboard with allowing the kids to get the help they need. Parnets must also ensure that their kids are meeting expectations such as homework, and get the answers their children need. Without the parents fully engaged nothing gets accomplished.
The numbers don’t lie no matter which ones you believe
Stop avoiding the real problems and directly attack that issues head on. The graduation are horrible and everyone connected with these numbers should recognize it for what it is, a grand failure.
In order to solve these problems it takes real leadership, and in the city there seems to be a lack of it.
Apr 5, 2008
Mayor it takes Real Leadership
First off, I like R.T. Rybak. He is one of the most approachable elected officials at any level I know. He is a genuinely nice guy, and I tend to like people that pursue and achieve their life long dreams. However, he is a guy that is wrong-minded when it comes to running a city. You still have a city that creates an oppressive tax burden on residents and businesses, continued crime problems, and an ever lowering of just about of the key city livability factors. He lacks the political skills to raise the city’s standing with the outstate political establishment, solve the business problems facing downtown, and tends to focus on “pie in the sky” initiatives that just cost a ton of non-existing city money.
Now there is talk about him running from Governor. Usually one would have a positive record to run on in order to make a case for running for higher office. Try solving some problems that take real leadership. How about taking the lead on real education reform? How about improving the business environment? How about making Minneapolis a more affordable place to live? That would be by real means, not artificially created ones.
What are your motives there R.T.? We could have been looking at R.T for US Senate right now. There as a lot of talk about that about a year or so ago. Now we are talking Governor, why? Show me the real leadership!!
Now there is talk about him running from Governor. Usually one would have a positive record to run on in order to make a case for running for higher office. Try solving some problems that take real leadership. How about taking the lead on real education reform? How about improving the business environment? How about making Minneapolis a more affordable place to live? That would be by real means, not artificially created ones.
What are your motives there R.T.? We could have been looking at R.T for US Senate right now. There as a lot of talk about that about a year or so ago. Now we are talking Governor, why? Show me the real leadership!!
Apr 4, 2008
Apr 3, 2008
What is it that residents want...Don't care
The Park Board and the "Silly Council" often brag about their "listening" to the concerns of the people and being an "open" government. Well, here is a point that counters both. It sounds like they aren't being straight with the people, nor really accounting for their concerns.
Please check out http://www.savestinson.org/.
Stinson Parkway is in Northeast, and refers to one of our previous postings in regards to the connection of the missing link of the Grand Rounds.
Please check out http://www.savestinson.org/.
Stinson Parkway is in Northeast, and refers to one of our previous postings in regards to the connection of the missing link of the Grand Rounds.
Apr 2, 2008
Fixing Education #6 – Don’t ignore the problems and face the numbers
Holy cow was this timely (they must have know I was talking about this..ha ha).
The Minneapolis Star Tribune releases the story on graduation rates in the Minneapolis schools and the numbers aren’t shocking to those of us who pay attention, but still are very disturbing.
Sixth: the numbers don’t lie no matter which ones you believe
It doesn’t matter if you believe the “America’s Promise” graduation rate of 43.7% during 2003-2004, or the MPS numbers of 52.8% over that same period. This is a huge failure, which requires action of crisis proportion. Everyone connected with the Minneapolis Public Schools planning guidance should resign in complete disgrace due to their incompetence. Decisive leadership and action is required so that the parents can stop scarifying their children’s future to political bungling. It doesn’t matter even if you believe the 67.2% rate this past year, it’s still more than 1 in 3 students won’t graduate. In a company if you produced at these levels you would be fired. As each year goes by that this problem isn’t addressed properly you are throwing over 1/3 of the kids “under the bus”. There is no plan in place to deal with the outcome of this inaction, and no plans to fix the root causes of the problems. Over the last week we’ve highlighted the problems and proposed solutions. This is a lot better than the Minneapolis school board has done over the last few years.
Not just the school board problem.
The “Silly Council” and the Mayor are also to blame for allowing this problem to continue without getting addressed. Yes I know what you “elected” say…It’s not a city council issue. Hogwash!! One of the biggest livability factors in any city is the quality of the education system. Granted this isn’t just Minneapolis, but all big cities. They focus their time on making things green, worrying about their popularity with the voters based on the amount of money they handout, and banding certain types of music in coffee shops. You people wanted to provide leadership on the important issues of the day, then show some leadership on this important issue…..fix the schools.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune releases the story on graduation rates in the Minneapolis schools and the numbers aren’t shocking to those of us who pay attention, but still are very disturbing.
Sixth: the numbers don’t lie no matter which ones you believe
It doesn’t matter if you believe the “America’s Promise” graduation rate of 43.7% during 2003-2004, or the MPS numbers of 52.8% over that same period. This is a huge failure, which requires action of crisis proportion. Everyone connected with the Minneapolis Public Schools planning guidance should resign in complete disgrace due to their incompetence. Decisive leadership and action is required so that the parents can stop scarifying their children’s future to political bungling. It doesn’t matter even if you believe the 67.2% rate this past year, it’s still more than 1 in 3 students won’t graduate. In a company if you produced at these levels you would be fired. As each year goes by that this problem isn’t addressed properly you are throwing over 1/3 of the kids “under the bus”. There is no plan in place to deal with the outcome of this inaction, and no plans to fix the root causes of the problems. Over the last week we’ve highlighted the problems and proposed solutions. This is a lot better than the Minneapolis school board has done over the last few years.
Not just the school board problem.
The “Silly Council” and the Mayor are also to blame for allowing this problem to continue without getting addressed. Yes I know what you “elected” say…It’s not a city council issue. Hogwash!! One of the biggest livability factors in any city is the quality of the education system. Granted this isn’t just Minneapolis, but all big cities. They focus their time on making things green, worrying about their popularity with the voters based on the amount of money they handout, and banding certain types of music in coffee shops. You people wanted to provide leadership on the important issues of the day, then show some leadership on this important issue…..fix the schools.
Mar 31, 2008
Fixing Education #5 … we are not done yet
I’m going to continue this thread because it is one of the most trying subjects of our time, and besides, I’m not done ranting and raving yet.
Fifth: Make a pact with parents
Parents and teachers need to be on the same page as to the needs of the students. Parents and teachers should meet each at the beginning of the school year or period and lay the foundation for the rules of the classroom, expectations, develop a open line of communication with each other, and spend time together to give one another a good understanding of the other. This may seem like a lot considering the number of students a teacher will see in a year, but in order to improve the state of education it is necessary.
The book “School Programs and Teacher Practices of Parent Involvement in Inner-City Elementary and Middle Schools” by Joyce L. Epstein and Susan L. Dauber; points out the importance of building the parent, student, teacher relationship.
This is especially true in the middle school grades. The major factor in success at the middle school level is that the teachers are teaching middle school kids because they want to. I’ve seen the major difference in the quality of the education between public and private middle schools come down to this one single factor.
Fifth: Make a pact with parents
Parents and teachers need to be on the same page as to the needs of the students. Parents and teachers should meet each at the beginning of the school year or period and lay the foundation for the rules of the classroom, expectations, develop a open line of communication with each other, and spend time together to give one another a good understanding of the other. This may seem like a lot considering the number of students a teacher will see in a year, but in order to improve the state of education it is necessary.
The book “School Programs and Teacher Practices of Parent Involvement in Inner-City Elementary and Middle Schools” by Joyce L. Epstein and Susan L. Dauber; points out the importance of building the parent, student, teacher relationship.
This is especially true in the middle school grades. The major factor in success at the middle school level is that the teachers are teaching middle school kids because they want to. I’ve seen the major difference in the quality of the education between public and private middle schools come down to this one single factor.
Mar 29, 2008
Fixing Education #4… Next level
Fourth: Focus on what is important. The curriculum focus needs to be on subjects that are vital for survival and provide and encourage advancement for those who can handle it. Everyone needs to know the basics of such subjects, but not exclusively, as math, reading, writing, civics, history, science, physical education, health and finances. There should be no comprise on such subjects, and by the time a kid exits high school they should have mastered these subjects. No more social promotion, and there should be tutor services for those that fall behind on these subjects and hold kids back if needed. Educators do more for a kid if held back than to just them advance without the understanding of the subject matter.
There should be access to advanced classes in math, science, and engineering. For those who are seen as ripe to take advantage of these classes should be strongly encouraged to attend.
There should be access to advanced classes in math, science, and engineering. For those who are seen as ripe to take advantage of these classes should be strongly encouraged to attend.
Where is the Shadow #5
Last week: St. Anthony parkway along the river facing North Minneapolis looking southwest.Mar 27, 2008
Fixing Education #3..Rave on
Third: Prepare for the math and science revolution. If the United States is going to be able to compete in the world economy in the near future we need to focus on math, physical science, bioscience, and engineering. Bioscience needs to be applied to scanning equipment, detectors, and other concepts to meet the needs of areas such as the War On Terrorism. The final frontier places great demands on all of the subjects. What better way for inner city kids to get a meal ticket for a great future then to get a focused education on the sciences? Just think of all the applications for the electrical and mechanical engineering fields.
Instead of focusing on taking a “get them by” approach, the administrators need to figure out how to transform the education system into a “pick them up and dust them off” human equity building system. The current system focuses too much on lower class size, marketing programs, reacting, tenured teachers, and slipping things under the carpet. They are completely missing the point! What is needed is more tutors to pickup those behind, more professionals teaching, more challenge, and focus on the benefits that a pro-active education system can bring.
There are some major cultural problems that we are being faced with, especially in the inner city. In some circles a good and successful education is considered a sell out of the culture. Society is afraid to be honest about that and therefore unable to deal with that issue. This issue must be addressed and turned around. There is way too much good talent out there that is losing out, and our society is losing out on, because of this dim view of the world. We either all win or lose together. There is no good reason for this dim view on success and hard work. Just from my observations it comes down to a matter of guilt, remorse, a sense of hopelessness, and a general distrust of those in charge of the system. We can turn that all around with a focus on the job of getting people on the right track in life, and having been shown the benefits thereof. Too often people make it to easy for us to make excuses for not doing what is human nature, and that is the pursuit of happiness. It all starts with education!
Instead of focusing on taking a “get them by” approach, the administrators need to figure out how to transform the education system into a “pick them up and dust them off” human equity building system. The current system focuses too much on lower class size, marketing programs, reacting, tenured teachers, and slipping things under the carpet. They are completely missing the point! What is needed is more tutors to pickup those behind, more professionals teaching, more challenge, and focus on the benefits that a pro-active education system can bring.
There are some major cultural problems that we are being faced with, especially in the inner city. In some circles a good and successful education is considered a sell out of the culture. Society is afraid to be honest about that and therefore unable to deal with that issue. This issue must be addressed and turned around. There is way too much good talent out there that is losing out, and our society is losing out on, because of this dim view of the world. We either all win or lose together. There is no good reason for this dim view on success and hard work. Just from my observations it comes down to a matter of guilt, remorse, a sense of hopelessness, and a general distrust of those in charge of the system. We can turn that all around with a focus on the job of getting people on the right track in life, and having been shown the benefits thereof. Too often people make it to easy for us to make excuses for not doing what is human nature, and that is the pursuit of happiness. It all starts with education!
Mar 25, 2008
Fixing Education #2...rant on
One of biggest huddles that education reform faces is the bloated bureaucratic monstrosity that is the school system administration. There is too much of it and not enough people focused on delivery of high quality education. There are a lot of well meaning people involved in the administration, however there is too much nepotism and political hackery.
Second: Clear out the administration. The “lean and mean principle” has been a foreign concept in the schools for far too long. It’s not just a problem of money, but decision-making ability. The principals of each site need to be charged with the responsible for each school site and treated as such. They are the academic leaders of the school and need to have the ability to enact changes to better the school within the broader vision of the district. In my experiences and discussions with lots of teachers and principals it seems like they can’t do anything without having their pulse taken by “807” [the school administration for those unfamiliar with the street address]. As just one example, is there really a need for three area associate superintendents and three principals on special assignment to cover the district?
Second: Clear out the administration. The “lean and mean principle” has been a foreign concept in the schools for far too long. It’s not just a problem of money, but decision-making ability. The principals of each site need to be charged with the responsible for each school site and treated as such. They are the academic leaders of the school and need to have the ability to enact changes to better the school within the broader vision of the district. In my experiences and discussions with lots of teachers and principals it seems like they can’t do anything without having their pulse taken by “807” [the school administration for those unfamiliar with the street address]. As just one example, is there really a need for three area associate superintendents and three principals on special assignment to cover the district?
Mar 24, 2008
Fixing Education
I have received a number of emails from people who know me asking when the Minneapolis Shadow will start focusing on education. Just so everyone knows that my background on this subject comes from at least 5 years serving on site issues boards, district advisory councils, and my interaction with kids, teachers, and administrators at all levels. Well hold on because here we go!!!
In a state where over 45% of the state expenditures go toward K12 education the largest city in having major problems with getting children properly educated. Two more high schools in Minneapolis are required to do thru “reorganization”, and having to hire all new teachers. I don’t agree with this method of addressing the issue, because it goes deeper than just hiring all new teachers. God bless these teachers because I don’t think I’d want their jobs. They take a lot of crap from kids, don’t get paid enough, and work within a bureaucratic quagmire. There are a lot rewards that do come with teaching, but we need to fix the system and the players. The problems require a great deal of overhauling not patch work fixes that already have proven not to work. I’m going to create a series of posts regarding this because the subject is too in depth for just one post.
First: Disciple in the classroom. The teacher needs to run a classroom that is orderly, and fosters learning instead of chaos. Most of the problems that are in education are from the kids that come from broken homes. This issue requires a balance between understanding and disciple. Parents and children need to be held accountable for their children’s actions in the classroom. Parents need to be told and contacts signed that there is a strict behavior code at the school, and punishment will be carried out upon infringement of the code. This must be done in order to give these children a chance at learning. The concept is that the school has these kids for 6-8 hours a day, and during that time they are required and allowed to focus on their work and forget about the problems at home. Without a good education they are left with a sense of hopelessness, which is the fault of the parents and school. The only way out of a bad situation is by demonstrating that there is something better and proving that education is the key to that path.
In a state where over 45% of the state expenditures go toward K12 education the largest city in having major problems with getting children properly educated. Two more high schools in Minneapolis are required to do thru “reorganization”, and having to hire all new teachers. I don’t agree with this method of addressing the issue, because it goes deeper than just hiring all new teachers. God bless these teachers because I don’t think I’d want their jobs. They take a lot of crap from kids, don’t get paid enough, and work within a bureaucratic quagmire. There are a lot rewards that do come with teaching, but we need to fix the system and the players. The problems require a great deal of overhauling not patch work fixes that already have proven not to work. I’m going to create a series of posts regarding this because the subject is too in depth for just one post.
First: Disciple in the classroom. The teacher needs to run a classroom that is orderly, and fosters learning instead of chaos. Most of the problems that are in education are from the kids that come from broken homes. This issue requires a balance between understanding and disciple. Parents and children need to be held accountable for their children’s actions in the classroom. Parents need to be told and contacts signed that there is a strict behavior code at the school, and punishment will be carried out upon infringement of the code. This must be done in order to give these children a chance at learning. The concept is that the school has these kids for 6-8 hours a day, and during that time they are required and allowed to focus on their work and forget about the problems at home. Without a good education they are left with a sense of hopelessness, which is the fault of the parents and school. The only way out of a bad situation is by demonstrating that there is something better and proving that education is the key to that path.
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